Proportioning device



Jan. 27, 1953 E. HARPER PROPORTIONING DEVICE 5 Shee ts-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1947 INVENTOR.

LYNDUS E. HARPER TTORNEY Jan. 27, 1953 E. HARPER PROPORTIONING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1947 INVENTOR.

H F/ E 0 s ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 L. E. HARPER PROPORTIONING DEVICE Jan. 27, 1953 Filed Feb. 21, 1947 INVENTOR LYNDUS E. HARPER av ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1953 E. HARPER PROPORTIONING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 21, 1947 INVENTOR LYN DUS E. HARPER Jan. 27, 1953 L. E. HARPER PROPORTIONING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 21, 1947 W N r QQN QON WON INVENTOR LYNDUS E. HARPER W Patented Jan. 27, 1953 PROPORTIONING DEVICE Lyndus E. Harper, Chicago, 111., assignor to Omega Machine Company, Providence, R. I., a corporation of Missouri Application February 21, 1947, Serial No. 730,162

11 Claims.

My invention relates toproportioning devices, and more particularly to a device for continuously accurately proportioning two materials relative to each other, including means that positively controls the flow of one material at a desired rate and means for causing the flow of another material to automatically follow in correct proportion.

While numerous proportioning controlling devices have been previously known, these are only adapted to proportion two liquids or fluids to each other and are ordinarily actuated by two devices that are, in operation, similar to a water meter, being rotated by means of the Water passing through a suitable conduit in which the meter is interposed and rotating at a rate proportional to the flow of said water. Such proportioning devices are not, due to the character thereof, adapted for proportioning a solid material and a liquid to each other. My improved proportioning means is adapted to proportion a liquid to a solid material and may also be used for proportioning a liquid to another liquid.

My invention is particularly adapted to control the operation of a valve either by electrically operated controlling means or controlling means operated by variations in air pressure. In my improved proportioning device the position of said valve is determined by actuating the electrical or air pressure control therefor by a differential mechanism which is operated by the combined action of a member actuated by a feeder and a member actuated by a liquid metering device. The feeder is, preferably, a feeder for dry material, although my invention is adaptable for use in connection with certain feeders for liquid material also.

While my invention is particularly adapted for controlling the flow of a liquid through the positioning of a valve in proportion to the flow of feed of a solid material that is fed by suitable feeding means, it is also adapted for controlling the position of a valve in proportion to the feed of a liquid, which liquid feeding means is capable of feeding at various rates. The feeding means for the solid material is also adapted for feeding at Various rates and the rate of feed may be either automatic or manually adjustable, in the case of either the liquid or dry material feeding means, the rate of feed of which controls the position of the valve that controls the supply of liquid.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description of the drawings proceeds. I desire to have it understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the particular details shown or described, except as defined in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view partly broken away of my improved controlling means for controlling the flow of a liquid in proportion to the feed of a solid or dry material.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical connections provided in my controlling device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale of the differential mechanism employed in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 3, partly broken away.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view through the differential drive mechanism employed in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a modification, partly broken away.

Fig. '7 is a vertical elevational view taken perpendicularly to Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modification.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing a different feeder for the solid or dry material, and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig, 1 showing my means for controlling the position of a valve controlling the flow of a liquid relative to the fiow of another liquid.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Fig. 1 is shown a dry material feeder IO, which is provided with any suitable supply means, such as a hopper H, and which is shown as being of a belt type gravimetric feeder having the belt l2 for feeding the solid material into a mixing chamber l3, in which the same is mixed in a suitable manner with a liquid supplied through the pipe 54 so as to produce a suitable solution of the solid material in the liquid. The rate of feed of the feeder I8 is determined by the rate of travel of the feed belt I 2, which is driven by a suitable sprocket drive [5 from the output sprocket it of a variable speed mechanism H, which may be either manually adjusted or automatically adjusted, as by suitable weight controlled means through an adjusting device I8, which is not a part of this invention.

The output shaft 220 of the variable speed mechanism ll drives a flexible shaft 19 through any suitable manually adjustable driving connection 22L shown as being a friction disk driving means. The flexible shaft I9 is thus driven at a predetermined speed relative to that of the output shaft 220, which remains fixed for any adjustment of the driving means 22!. The flexible shaft I9 extends to the controlling device 20 mounted on a water meter 2| through which the Water passes to the pipe l4, said water passing from a supply line 22 through a valve 23 to the pipe 24 which leads to the meter 2|. The adjustment of the adjustable driving connection 22I determines the ratio to be maintained between the liquid fed into the mixing chamber I3 through the pipe I4 and the dry material fed to said mixing chamber from the feeder having the belt I2 or similar dry material feeding device.

The controlling device 29 is shown more in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, the same comprising a main housing 25, which is mounted on the water meter 2| in a suitable manner, ears 25 being shown as being provided for bolting the housing 25 to the water meter body 2 I. The water meter ordinarily is provided with a removable upper housing portion 21, in which the counting mechanism is located, and it will be noted upon reference to Fig. 3 that the housing 2'! is provided with ears 28 for securing the same to the housing 25 in the same manner as it would have been secured to the water meter had the housing 25 not been interposed, the housing 25 having a downwardly extending flange portion 23, which seats in a suitable groove in the meter body 2| and the counting mechanism housing portion 21 having a similar depending flange 39 that seats in a groove in the upper end of the body portion 25. Said body portion also has a pair of transversely extending Webs 3| and 32, which are provided with bearings 33 and 34 for a purpose to be described below.

The housing also has an outwardly extending tubular projection 35, in which a sleeve 36 is mounted, which is provided with the bearings 31 and 38 for a shaft 39. The sleeve has an annular enlargement 45 thereon between which and the end portion of the tubular projection is mounted the hook flange 4| on the internally threaded sleeve 42, with which the threaded coupling member 43 engages to connect the shaft portion 44 on the flexible shaft member I9 with the reduced end portion 45 of the shaft 39, so that the shafts I 9 and 39 will turn in unison.

A bevel gear 46 is fixed on the shaft 39 and spaced from the inner end of the tubular member 36 by a collar 41. Said bevel gear meshes with a large bevel ring gear 48, which has a hub portion 49 which is free to rotate on the shaft 50, which is mounted in the bearing 34. The shaft 59 is also mounted in the bearing 33, a collar 5| being pinned to the shaft 59 to hold the same in proper position so that the reduced end portion 52 thereof will engage with the shaft 53 of the counting mechanism. Said shaft is driven by the meter shaft 54 through a coupling at 55.

A gear 53 is fixed on the shaft 55 and a bevel gear 51 is free to rotate on the shaft 59, said bevel gear 57 having a reduced extension 58 on its hub, on which the disk 59 is fixed. A ring gear 60 is fixed to the bevel gear 48 and pinions 6| that are rotatably mounted on the disk 59 on the shafts 62 mesh with the internal teeth on the ring gear 60 and with the external teeth on the gear 56. The bevel gear 51 meshes with a large bevel gear 63, which is fixed on the shaft 64, said shaft 64 being mounted in a tubular bearing portion 65 projecting inwardly, and an enlarged tubular portion 66 projecting outwardly from the housing 25.

The disk 59 will remain stationary when the shaft 50 and the shaft 39 are rotating at the desired speed ratio, this being determined by the sizes of the various gears provided in the differential gearing and the beve1 gearing above described. If the speed of the shaft 39 increases relative to the speed of the shaft 53 above that desired, then the disk-like member 59 will be rotated in one direction due to the rotation of the pinion 6| around the shaft 59, while if the speed of the shaft 55 is too great relative to that of the shaft 39, then the disk-like member 59 will be rotated in the opposite direction. This will cause rotation of the shaft 64 in either one or the other direction, dependent upon the relative speed of the shafts 39 and 59.

The shaft 64 has a clutch member 67 rotatably mounted thereon, which has a pair of notches 88 therein, in which the pin 59 extending through the shaft 84 is adapted to engage normally, being held in engagement therewith by the compression spring 13 bearing against the disk ll, which engages with said clutch member, and which holds said clutch member in frictional engagement with a friction washer 72 interposed between the clutch member 51' and the forwardly projecting hub 23 on the gear 24, which is mounted in fixed position on the inwardly projecting hub portion 15 on aknurled knob 76, the shaft 64 having a collar l7 fixed thereto for holding the parts in position. The knob 16 is free to rotate on the shaft 64 to rotate the gear 14 independently of the shaft 54, should manual adjustment be desired, but normally the shaft 64 drives the gear 24 through the clutch mechanism at the same rate and in the same direction as the shaft 54.

The bearing projection (56 and clutch mechanism and gear 24 are located in a supplemental housing i3, which is secured to the housing 25 by means of suitable securing elements 79 and is provided with a cover plate 89 secured by means of the securing elements 8|. Said supplemental housing '58 also has mounted therein a rheostat 82, which is adjusted by rotation of the rotor thereof, rotation in one direction increasing the resistance thereof, and rotation in the opposite direction decreasing the resistance thereof in a well known manner. Such rotation of the rotor of the rheostat is obtained by means of the shaft 83, which extends through an enlarged opening in the partition 84. The rheostat 82 is mounted on said partition 34 by means of a tubular extension 85, which is externally threaded and has the nuts 8? and 8B engaging the threads thereon to clamp the rheostat to the partition 85. The shaft 83 extends through the tubular member 85 into the rheostat and is fixed to the rotor of said rheostat in any desired manner. The hub portion 89 of a gear 99 is fixed on the shaft 33 and the gear 91'! meshes with the gear 14 so that rotation on the shaft 64 in one direction will adjust the rheostat to increase the resistance thereof and rotation of the shaft 64 in the other direction will adjust the rheostat to decrease the resistance thereof. The same thing can be accomplished manually by means of the knob 76 independently of the shaft 54, should this be found desirable.

The rheostat is interposed in a circuit, which is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2, the rheostat being indicated as a variable resistance 82 in said circuit diagram. The conductors 9| and 92 lead from said rheostat, as will be obvious from Fig. 4. The conductor 9| is connected with a conductor 93 that extends from any suitable source of electrical energy, from which the conductor 94 also extends. A conductor 95 is also connected with the conductor 93, the conductors 9| and 95 constituting branches of the circuit of which the conductor 93 is a part.. A variable resistance 93 is connected with the conductor 95 and the conductor 91, the conductor 91 having a winding 98 connected therewith and the conductor 92 having a winding 99 connected therewith, said windings 98 and 99 being connected by means of conductors I and IOI with the conductor 94. Thus the variable resistances 82 and 90 are connected in parallel with each other and the windings 98 and 99 are solenoids into which the core or plunger I02 is adapted to be drawn, dependent on whether the value of the current passing through the winding 98 or 99 is the greater. The variable resistance 96 is a part of the valve mechanism contained in the housing I03 and varies in accordance with the position of the valve member that controls flow through the valve 23, the position of which is determined by means of a motor indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2 at I04.

The motor I04 is adapted to be reversed in direction, being connected with the line wires I05 and I05, the connection being made with the line wire I05 through a switching element I91, the position of which is determined by the position of the plunger I02, from which it is insulated by means of the insulating member I08. The switching member I0'I cooperates with either the stationary contact I09 or IIO, dependent upon whether the solenoid 99 attracts the armature or plunger I02 or the solenoid I09 attracts it. The conductor III leads from the fixed contact I09 to a terminal on the motor I04 that causes the same to rotate in one direction, and the conductor H2 extends from the stationary contact IIO to a terminal of the motor I04 that causes it to rotate in the opposite direction. Accordingly, if the resistance 82, the value of which is determined by the position of the rheostat, is less than the resistance 96 determined by the position of the valve, the current flowing through the winding 90 will be greater than that flowin through the winding 90, which will cause the motor I04 to rotate in a direction to open the valve I93 further. This causes such movement of the movable contact member of the variable resistance 93 as to decrease the value of said resistance, causing eventually a balanced condition between the current flowing through the winding 98 and through the winding 99, which will cause the contact member I 01 to assume a position out of engagement with either of the contacts I99 and H0.

If the position of the valve resulting eventually causes the differential mechanism to adjust the variable resistance 82 to increase the value thereof, then the armature or core I02 will be attracted by the winding 98 to close the circuit to the conductor III, reversing the direction of rotation of the motor I04 from that that previously took place, which will cause the valve to move to a more closed position and the variable resistance 93 to be increased thereby until a balanced condition again exists, whereupon the contact I91 will again assume an open circuit position and the motor will stop, the valvethen remaining in that position until the differential mechanism again causes a change in the position of the rheostat, causing the motor I04 to either open or close the valve, whichever may be required.

The differential mechanism varies the resistance so as to open the valve further whenever the flow of liquid is too small in proportion to the feed of the dry material, and to close the valve when the flow of the liquid is too great in proportion to the feed of the dry material.

Thus the differential mechanism in combination with the electrical means disclosed serves to' maintain the desired proportionate feed of dry material and liquid to the container I3 in which: a solution or suspension of the dry material in: the liquid takes place and from which the result-- ing product discharges through the dischargepipe H3. The variations in the supply of the dry material to the container I3, which may be either controlled by automatic means or by manual means, thus determine the rate of flow of liquid through the pipe 24 to the meter 2I into the container I3. The meter through which said liquid flows serves as one of the means for maintaining the rate of flow through the valve 23 at the proper value to maintain the desired proportion between the dry material and the liquid that is fed to the tank or container I3.

Instead of providing electrical means for controlling the position of the valve, the position of the valve controlling the flow of liquid may be determined by air operated means. Such means for positioning the valve member is shown in Figs. 6 and '7, in which an air controlled valve 23' is shown. The valve 23' has a stem I I4, which is connected with the diaphragm II5 that is clamped between the members IIS and H1 at its edges, thus dividing the space between the members H6 and II! into two chambers H8 and -II9. Resilient means, such as the coil spring I20, tends to move the valve member provided in the member 23 in one direction, which in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 is in a seating direction, and movement of the diaphragm II5 by increase of pressure in the chamber I I8 causes the valve to move in the opposite or in an opening direction.

The chamber II8 has a conduit I2I connected therewith, which is connected with a passage I22 in the block I25 mounted on the mounting. plate I24. The block I25 has a passage I26 extending from the passage I22 which is connected with a passage I28 by means of a restriction or restricted orifice I21. The passage I28 is connected with a source of constant air pressure by means of the pipe I23.

Means for varying the pressure in the pipe I2I is provided comprising a pipe I29 connected with the passage I22 through a suitable screwthreaded coupling I30. The pipe I29 has a coupling I 3I at the opposite end thereof, which is connected with a screw-threaded member I32 that connects it with a valve body I33.

Said valve body I33 has a passage I34 therein that has a tubular member I35 mounted in the end thereof and projecting slightly beyond the end of said passage to provide a reduced portion in said passage. Said valve body further hasside openings I33 to the atmosphere and has a chamber I3'I therein, into which said openings lead, that communicates with the tubular member I35. A valve member I38 is mounted in the chamber I31 and has a projecting portion I39 thereon that is adapted to engage the end of the passage in the member I35 or to assume suitable positions in spaced relation thereto, to vary the amount of air passing through the member I35 and thus through the tube I29, and out through the openings I36. The opening to atmosphere provided through the member I35 is of greater size than the restriction I2'I. It will be obvious that the less air that can discharge through the tube I29 the greater will be the efiective pressure 7 in the chamber H8 and the further will the diaphragm I-I -move in opposition to the pressure of the spring I29.

A- lever I 4Iis mounted on a knife edge-fulcrum I4! provided on the plate I24 and an adjustable counterweight I42 is provided on said lever I40, the same being longitudinally slidable on the lever I48 and being adapted to be clamped in position by means of a set screw I43. The position of thelever I4Il-wi1l determine the position of the valve I38, as said valve has a projecting pin or stem portion I44 that engages said lever. The sensitivity of the valve mechanism is determined by the spacing of the point of contact of the pin I44 with the lever relative to the fulcrum MI and means is provided for adjusting the 'posi tion of saidpin I44 relative to the fulcrum. The tubular member I29- is-flexible so that the curvature thereof can bevaried to permit-suclr-adjustment. In order that such adjustment can be accomplished the valve body I33'is mounted on a flange I45of a plate I48, which also has a flange I41 thereon that has a threaded opening therein, with which the screw-threaded member I48 engages, which is rotatable in an ear I49 provided on the plate I24, adjustment thereof being obtained by means of a knurled knob I50 fixed thereto, between which and said ear a nut I5I is provided, the member I43 being held against longitudinal movement relative to the ear I49 by means of the nut I5I and the nut I52, the nut I5I also serving to lock the parts in adjusted position. The plate I46 is also provided with a flange I53, with which the end of a screwthreaded member I54 engages, that in turn screwthreadedly-engages in an opening in the bar I55 mounted on the plate I24 to provide for vertical adjustment of the valve body relative to the lever, said adjusting a means also including a screw-threaded member I56 which engages with a screw-threaded opening in the bar I55, and which has a coil spring I51 mounted between the head thereof and the member I53.

The lever- I46 is twisted at I58 to turn the portion I55 thereof into a plane at right angles to the body portion Ida; the portion I59 of the lever I40 being mounted betweena pair of stop-screws It?) and ISI, which are adjustably mounted-in posts I552 and Ifi3 extending from the plate I24 and which are connected together by means of a bar ltd by means of screw-threaded headed members I65. A post I63 also extends-from the plate I24 and has a guide opening therein for the rod IE1. Said rod I61 has-a collar I68 thereon, which is fixed in position, and said rodhas a screwthreaded lower endupon which the nut. 863 is threaded. The lever I59 is provided with anopening I1B therein that is larger than said rod, and a washer I1! is mounted on said rod, 'a coiled compression spring. I12 being provided between the washer I11 and the nut ISd; Thecompression of the spring I12 can be adjusted by means of the nut Its so that this'will overcomethe weightof the valve I38 and any movement of the rod I61 will be-transmitted to the lever I48 to thus move the valve stem'or pin I44 in response to the position of said lever I48.

By providing the yielding connection between the rod-like member I61 and the lever I49, any damage to the mechanism for moving the red I61 will be avoided, should such movement of the rod I81 cause the end of the portion I59 of thelever to engage one of the stop members I60 or IEI. The position of the rod; I61 is determined by means of a pin I13, which engages-the-collarr I68,

and the spring I12 also serves to hold the collar I 68constantly in engagement with said pin. The pin I13 is mounted on a disk-like member I14, which is provided on the end of the shaft 64' that corresponds to the shaft 64 shown in Fig. 4, and is similarly adjusted or rotated by differential mechanism, which may be of the same character as that shown in Figs. 3 and4, and which is actuated by the same means as previously described. Suitable frictional driving means may be provided between the disk-like member I14 and the shaft 64', similar to that previously described, comprising a spring 10 mounted between a cotter pin I15 on the shaft 64 and the friction clutch means 61', which may be-manually adjusted by means of a knurled knob 16' in a; similar manner to that described in connection with the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, the knob 19 thus being adapted to manually adjust the disk-like member I14" to place the pin I13 in any desired starting position. The plate-like member I24 is mounted on the housing 25" corresponding to the housing 25 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in any desired manner.

It will be obvious that rotation of the member-I14 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 will raise the member I68 and thus the rod-like member, and the lever I40 will rise so as to cause the valve member I38 to approach the member I35 reducing the size of the bleed opening; and thus increasing the pressure in the chamber IId, causing the valve on the stem II4 to be opened further against the action of the spring I29, thus increasing the flow of the liquid passing through the valve 23". Rotation of the member I14-in a clockwise direction will cause'the opposite movement of the lever I40 and a'movement of'the valve 23' in a direction to close the same further. Thus the variations in the flow of the dry material will adjust the valve 23' to vary the fiow of'the liquid supplied so as to maintain the proper proportion between said dry material and liquid that is being supplied to the chamber I3, in a similar manner to that in which the electrical control means previously described does this. Also any variation in the flow of the liquid to cause any undesired increase or deficiency thereof relative to the amount of dry material fed will cause adjustment of the valve 23 by means of the differential mechanism and the'air controlled means to provide the proper adjustment ofthe valve 23' to maintain the desired proportion between the dry material and the liquid fed to the chamber I3.

Instead of providing the differential mechanism shown in Figs; 3 and 4 to determine the position of the valve I38 by means of the position of the rod-like member I51, the means shown in Fig. 8 may be utilized, which is a very simple arrangement of such difierential apparatus. Instead of providing the pin I13 to move the collar I68 'fixed on said rod-like member I61, an arm I16 may be provided, which may have a forked end I11 between the bifurcations of which the rod I61 passes and which engages under the collar I58; Said arm or lever I16 extends from a sleeve I 88, thatis-rotatably mounted on a shaft I18. The shaft I 18 is connected with the flexible shaft I9 by suitable coupling means similar to that shown in Fig. 3. The shaft-I19 extends from and is driven by the water meter, said shaft being mounted in a suitable bearing in the housing I IBI within which a differential gearing is provided-comprising a gear I82 that meshes with the gear I83 and a gear I84'that meshes with 9v the gear I85. The gears I83 and I85 are fixed to each other to rotate together, the gear I82 being fixed to the shaft I79 and the gear I84 being fixed to the shaft I18.

The relative size of the gears I92, I83, I84 and I85 is such that when the desired proportion of liquid and dry material is being fed by the liquid and dry material feeding means that operate in proportion to therotation of the shafts I19 and I9 there will be no rotation of the gears I83 and I95 around the gears I92 and I94. However, should there be any variation in the desired relative rate of feed, then the gears I83 and I 85 will rotate around the gears I82 and I84 in one direction or the other, dependent upon whether the quantity of liquid fed is too great or too small relative to the quantity of dry material or solid material fed.

The gears I83 and I85 are mounted on a hub that has a pin I99 projecting therefrom, which is pivotally connected with a crank I81 provided on the sleeve I89. Thus rotation of the gears I93 and its around the gears I92 and I84 will cause angular movement of the crank I9! and a corresponding angular movement of the arm or lever H9, which will cause adjustment of the rod-like member iii? in a similar manner to that previously described, to adjust the air controlling means for the valve 23'. The bearing I99 is provided, in which the sleeve I99 is retatable.

Instead of providing the dry material feeding means shown in Fig. 1, other dry material feeding means can be provided, such as that shown in Fig. 9, in which the hopper I99 is Provided with an opening in the bottom thereof, which leads to a partly circular chamber I9I, in which a rotary feeding member I92 for dry material is provided. The rotary feeding member is mounted on a shaft I93, which is driven from a variable speed drive I94, said variable speed drive being interposed between the motor I 95 and said rotary feeding member I92. Thus the rate of feed will be proportional to the speed of the output shaft of the variable speed drive I94. Suitable agitating means I96 driven through a drive connection including the crank disk I9! and the link I99 keeps the contents of the hopper agitated so as to prevent bridging over thereof and assuring a continuous feed to the rotary member I92, the agitating means not being a part of this invention.

The output shaft of the variable speed drive is connected with a flexible shaft I99, which corresponds to the flexible shaft I9 shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, through an adjustable driving connection 222 for adjusting the predetermined ratio of dry material fed by the member i92 to the liquid supplied through liquid supply pipe It. The valve 23 is provided between the pipe 22 and the pipe 29, which leads to the water meter 2|, and from which the liquid supply pipe It leads into the chamber I3 as in the form of the invention disclosed'in Fig. 1. The suspension or solution that results from the mixing of the dry material and liquid in the chamber I3 passes out through the outlet pipe II3, as in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, and the same differential driv and electrical control means is provided as in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1,- the same numerals being applied to the corresponding parts of the valve controlling mechanism illustrated in Fig. 9 as in Fig. 1. p

As the material fed to the chamber I3 through the dischargepassage 200 from the rotary feeder I92 is in proportion to the rate of rotation of the flexible shaft I99, the proportioning control of the supply of liquid to that of the dry material will be obtained in the same manner as previously described, the valve 29 being adjusted through the differential mechanism, such as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, or that shown in Fig. 8, to maintain the valve 23 in proper adjustment to supply the proper proportion of liquid to solid material to maintain the same relative proportion between said solid material and liquid fed to the chamber 9 at all times.

Instead of feeding a dry material and liquid in a predetermined proportion to each other and controlling the proportions of these materials to each other by such a differential controlling means as above described, the proportion of two liquids to each other can be similarly controlled, the flow of the liquid through the water meter and the liquid feed by a suitable liquid feed device being maintained in a definite proportion to each other by the proportional controlling means forming part of this invention.

Such an apparatus is illustrated in Fig. 10, in which the chamber I3 has a liquid supply pipe 44' leading into the same and a liquid supply conduit 29I also leading into the same. Liquid is supplied at a desired rate to the chamber I3 through the conduit 29! by means of a rotary liquid feeding member having the buckets 292, which are mounted to rotate with the shaft 203 and which dip into a body of liquid in a tank 296, the level of which is controlled by a suitable float valve 295, the liquid being supplied to said tank 204 through a pipe 296, which leads to a pipe 201, the outlet of which is controlled by said float valve. The buckets 202 empty into discharge members or lips 298, which are located externally of the tank 294 in a chamber 299 so that when the buckets 292 pass to the upper side of the spider-like member formed thereby, during their rotation, the liquid will flow toward the shaft 299 into the discharge members 298, which discharge their contents into the chamber 209 from which the contents of the discharge members 298 pass into the conduit 2BI and into the chamber I3.

The rotatable liquid feeding member made up of the buckets 292 and discharge members 208 is rotated by means of the motor 2H1 through a variable speed drive 2| I, the speed of which may be controlled manually or in any other suitable manner, the output shaft of the variable speed drive 2II driving the shaft 203 of the rotatable liquid feeding member, and the flexible shaft I9 being connected with said output shaft of the variable speed drive device 2! I, through an adjustable. driving connection 212, whereby the ratio of feed of liquidsthrough pipes I4 and 20! may be adjusted. The shaft I9 is connected with the differential controlling device in the same manner as the shaft 19, the controlling device 20' being mounted on the water meter 2| in the same were applied 'to the corresponding parts in Fig. 1..

The discharge of the resulting product from the mixture of the two liquids in the chamber l3 passes out through the discharge pipe H3.

lhe operation of the device shown in Fig. is analogous to that of the device shown in Fig. 1, in that any change in the rate of feed of the liquid coming from the pipe 206 through the conduit 291 to the chamber l3 due to change in the speed of the variable speed device 2!! will correspondingly change the speed of the flexible shaft !9' and adjust the differential control device to adjust the valve 23" so that the same proportion of liquid passing through the pipe l4 into the chamber i3 will be maintained relative to that passing through the conduit as was the case prior to the change in speed of the variable speed device. Similarly any change in the rate of flow through the water meter 21' will adjust the variable speed device so as to adjust the valve 23" to maintain the proper proportion between the liquid supply through the pipe I4 and the conduit 20L In all forms of the invention the adjustment of the proportions can be varied by adjusting the adjustable speed changing driving connection between the ilexible shaft and the output shaft of the variable speed drive or by the manual controlling means l'fi or 16', as the case may be, or in the case of the simplified differential means shown in Fig. 8, by changing the relative size of the gears I82, I83, I84 and I85.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a receptacle, of means for feeding a material to said receptacle at a variable rate comprising a feeding member and driving means for said feeding member, means for supplying a liquid to said receptacle comprising a conduit leading to said receptacle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said conduit, and means controlling the position of said valve to maintain a predetermined proportion between said material at all rates of feed thereof and said liquid comprising a member rotating with said driving means proportional to the rate of feed of said feeding means, a member rotated by the liquid passing through said conduit to rotate at a rate proportional to the rate of flow of liquid therethrough, differential means connecting said last mentioned members and a valve positioning member actuated by said differential means.

2. 'The combination with a receptacle, of means for feeding dry material to said receptacle at a variable rate, means for supplying a liquid to said receptacle comprising a conduit leading to said receptacle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said conduit, and means controlling the position of said valve to maintain a predetermined proportion between said dry material and said liquid at all rates of feed of said dry material comprising a member rotating with said dry material feeding means proportional to the rate of feed thereof, a member rotated by the liquid passing through said conduit to rotate at a rate proportional to the rate of flow of liquid therethrough, differential means connecting said last mentioned members and a valve positioning member actuated by said differential means.

3. The combination with a receptacle, of means for feeding a material to said receptacle, comprising a feeding member and driving means for said feeding member means for varying the rate of feed of said material comprising means for varying the speed of said driving means, means for supplying a liquid to said receptacle comprising a conduit leading to said receptacle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said conduit, and means controlling the position of said valve to maintain a predetermined proportion between said material at all rates of feed thereof and said liquid comprising a member rotating with said driving means proportional to the rate of feed of said feeding means, a member rotated by the liquid passing through said conduit to rotate at a rate proportional to the rate of flow of liquid therethrough, differential means connecting said last mentioned members and a valve positioning member actuated by said differential means.

4. The combination with a receptacle, of means for feeding a material to said receptacle comprising a dry material conveyor discharging into said receptacle, variable speed driving means for varying the speed of said conveyor, means for supplying a liquid to said receptacle comprising a conduit leading to said receptacle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said conduit, and means controlling the position of said valve to maintain a predetermined proportion between said material and said liquid comprising a member rotating with said driving means proportional to the speed thereof, a member rotated by the liquid passing through said conduit to rotate at a rate proportional to the rate of flow of liquid therethrough, differential means connecting said last mentioned members and a valve positioning member actuated by said differential means.

5. The combination with a receptacle, of means for feeding a material to said receptacle at a variable rate, means for supplying a liquid to said receptacle comprising a conduit leading to said receptacle, an electrically controlled valve controlling the flow of liquid through said conduit, and means for adjusting the electrical control for said valve to adjust the position of said valve to maintain a predetermined proportion between said material and said liquid comprising a member rotating with said feeding means proportional to the rate of feed thereof, a member rotated by the liquid passing through said conduit to rotate at a rate proportional to the rate of flow of liquid therethrough, differential means connecting said last mentioned members, and a rheostat the adjustment of which determines the adjustment of said electrical control actuated by said differential means.

6. A device for maintaining a predetermined proportion between the rate of supply of a liquid and another material comprising a liquid line, a valve controlling flow through said line, a meter measuring flow through said line, a device operated by said meter for controlling the position of said valve comprising a diiferential mechanism having a part driven in proportion to the rate of supply of said material, a part driven by said meter, and a member movable by said differential mechanism only upon said rates of supply becoming out of said predetermined proportion, said member being movable in opposite directions, said valve being electrically adjusted, and a valve adjusting rheostat actuated by said member in a direction to adjust the position of said valve to restore said predetermined proportion of said rates of supply.

7. A device for maintaining a predetermined proportion between the rate of supply of a liquid and another material comprising a liquid line, a valve controlling flow through said line, a meter measuring flow through said line, a device operated by said meter for controlling the position of said valve comprising a differential mechanism having a part driven in proportion to the rate 13 of supply of said material, a part driven by said meter, and a member movable by said differential mechanism only upon said rates of supply becoming out of said predetermined proportion, said member being movable in opposite directions, valve controlling means actuated by said member said valve to maintain a predetermined proportion between said material and said liquid comto adjust said valve in a direction to restore said" predetermined proportion of said rates of supply, a frictional driving connection between said valve controlling means and said member and manually actuated adjusting means for said valve controlling means between said friction driving connection and said valve controlling means.

8. A device for maintaining a predetermined proportion between the rate of supply of a liquid and another material comprising a liquid line, a valve controlling flow through said line, a meter measuring flow through said line, a device operated by said meter for controlling the position of said valve comprising a differential mechanism having a part driven in proportion to the rate of supply of said material, a part driven by said meter, and a member movable by said differential mechanism only upon said rates of supply becoming out of said predetermined proportion, said member being movable in opposite directions, said valve being electrically adjusted, a valve adjusting rheostat actuated by said member in a direction to adjust the position of said valve, a frictional driving connection between said rheostat and said member and manually actuated adjusting means for said rheostat between said rheostat and said frictional driving connection.

9. The combination with a receptacle, of means for feeding a material to said receptacle, means for varying the rate of feed of said material, means for supplying a liquid to said receptacle comprising a conduit leading to said receptacle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said conduit, and means controlling the position of said valve to maintain a predetermined proportion between said material and said liquid as said rate of feed is varied comprising a member rotating with said feeding means proportional to the rate of feed thereof, a member rotated by the liquid passing through said conduit to rotate at a rate proportional to the rate of flow of liquid therethrough, differential means connecting said last mentioned members and a valve positioning member actuated by said differential means, in cluding a friction clutch device, and means between said friction clutch device and said valve positioning member for manually actuating said means independently of said differential mechanism to adjust said valve positioning member relative to said differential means.

10. The combination with a receptacle, of means for feeding a material to said receptacle, means for varying the rate of feed of said material, means for supplying a liquid to said receptacle comprising a conduit leading to said receptacle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said conduit, means controlling the position of prising a member rotating with said feeding means proportional to the rate of feed thereof, a member rotated independently of the member rotating with said feeding means by the liquid passing through said conduit to rotate at a rate proportional to the rate of flow of liquid therethrough, differential means connecting said last mentioned members and a valve positioning member actuated by said differential means upon any variation from said predetermined proportion, and means for adjusting said predetermined proportion, comprising means for adjusting said valve positioning member and valve relative to said differential means.

11. The combination with a receptacle, of means for feeding a material to said receptacle at a variable rate, means for supplying a liquid tosaid receptacle comprising a conduit leading to said receptacle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said conduit, means controlling the position of said valve to maintain a' predetermined proportion between said material and said liquid comprising a member rotating with said feeding means proportional to the rate of feed thereof, a member rotated independently of the member rotating with said feeding means by the liquid passing through said conduit to rotate at a rate proportional to the rate of flow of liquid therethrough, differential means connecting said last mentioned members anda valve positioning member actuated by said differential means upon any variation from'f'said predetermined proportion, and means for adjusting said valve positioning member relative to said diiferential means to change said predetermined proportion.

' LYNDUS E. HARPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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